James, who also won the Stud Staff Award,聽was presented with with the perpetual Godolphin Trophy by special guest presenter Oisin Murphy alongside聽Ed Chamberlin at an event hosted by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).
He takes聽home a total of 拢20,000 in prize money聽with the same amount being shared amongst the staff at Hascombe and Valiant Stud. This is聽part of a total of聽拢128,000 in prize money awarded on the evening by sponsors Godolphin.
Having come to the UK from Zimbabwe in his mid-twenties, James’ belief in leading from the front and setting the example to those he works with has been the hallmark of his 17 years of working in racing and breeding.
Most recently at Hascombe and Valiant Stud, his unswerving commitment to the mares and their foals and his skill with highly strung animals聽has seen him involved in the early stages of some of the modern greats of Flat racing, including Golden Horn and Cracksman.
James is meticulous in his organisation and forward planning and is held in universally high regard by his colleagues. He helps and encourages others to ensure that his own high standards are replicated across the stud and his love of horses and dedication to his work are an inspiration.
Brough Scott, Chair of the Judging Panel, said:
鈥淭he panel鈥檚 job was as tough as ever this year with some remarkable stories of commitment, hard work and dedication amongst this year鈥檚 finalists.
鈥淗owever, we had to reach a final decision and James is a hugely deserving winner for聽his years of perseverance and outstanding service to the breeding industry.”
Nick Rust, Chief Executive of the BHA, said:
鈥淔or James to be named Employee of the Year when our sport employs thousands of people who work so hard to provide first class care to our horses is a fantastic achievement.
鈥淲e are grateful to all of the staff who work behind the scenes to ensure that the horses who are bred for and take part in British racing are provided with exceptionally high levels of care.
鈥淭hese awards are our opportunity to say thank you to all of them, on behalf of the sport and on behalf of our horses, and tonight鈥檚 winners and finalists are fine ambassadors for their profession.鈥�
The Awards ceremony took place at The Underglobe on London鈥檚 South Bank in front of a specially invited audience from across the racing industry to celebrate the vital role of stud and stable staff in the racing industry and the care which they provide to the horses they look after.
The other category winners on the night were: Kevin Skelton of Bryan Smart Racing who took the David Nicholson newcomer award; Kim Bailey Racing’s Mat Nicholls聽 who landed the Leadership Award;聽Hayley Ashcroft from Tom Dascombe’s Manor House Stables聽who was successful in the Rider/Groom category聽and Andy Stringer, whose years of service in racing聽most recently with John Gosden earned him the Dedication award.
Also honoured was Simone Sear who landed the Rory MacDonald award for her work at Racing Welfare.
The full list of winners and runners up are as follows:
Employee of the Year: James Frank – Hascombe and Valiant Stud
David Nicholson Newcomer Award:聽Kevin Skelton – Bryan Smart
Runners up:聽Charlotte Cotgrave 鈥� Mark Johnston, Bradley Harris 鈥� Andrew Balding
Leadership Award:聽Mat Nicholls – Kim Bailey
Runners up:聽Leanne Kershaw 鈥� Jedd O鈥橩eeffe, James Savage 鈥� Michael Stoute
Rider/Groom Award:聽Hayley Ashcroft – Tom Dascombe
Runners up:聽Shoab Patel 鈥� Stuart Williams, Kate McCormack 鈥� Paul Nicholls
Stud Staff Award:聽James Frank – Hascombe and聽Valiant Stud
Runners up:聽Patrick Meehan 鈥� The National Stud, Keith Warburton 鈥� Shade Oak Stud
Dedication to Racing Award:聽Andy聽Stringer – John Gosden
Runners up:聽Seanie Mulcaire 鈥� Philip Hobbs, Philip Wright 鈥� Harry Dunlop
Rory Macdonald Award:聽Simone Sear 鈥� Racing Welfare
Runners up:聽Eleanor Boden 鈥� Scottish Racing, Rachel (Chicky) Oaksey 鈥� Injured Jockeys Fund
Brough Scott said:
鈥淚t has been a great honour to be involved with these fantastic awards for such a long period.
鈥淪ome of the people you hear from as part of the judging team leave you in little doubt that there are some extraordinary people working in racing and breeding.
鈥淚鈥檓 sure they will continue to go from strength to strength and celebrate those who do so much away from the limelight to keep our great sport on the road.鈥�
Hugh Anderson, Managing Director of Godolphin UK, said:
鈥淏rough has played a huge role in the development of these awards from their very early days right up to this year and has been a wise and measured guiding hand over the judging panel and process as a whole for nearly a quarter of a century.
鈥淲e owe him a considerable debt of gratitude for all the time and effort he as put in and he steps down as Chair with our warm thanks and best wishes.鈥�
Nick Luck said:
鈥淪tepping into Brough鈥檚 shoes will not be an easy task but I鈥檓 thrilled to be taking over as Chair and am looking forward to working with the wider Panel to celebrate the inspiring work done by stud and stable staff throughout the country.鈥�
2. The categories are: Leadership Award, Dedication Award, Rider/Groom Award, Stud Staff, Rory MacDonald Award and David Nicholson Newcomer Award (n.b. the David Nicholson Newcomer Award is for people who entered racing within the last three years).
2. The 鈥楻ory MacDonald Award鈥� recognises any individual connected directly or indirectly within horseracing, including auxiliary and administrative staff who has made an outstanding contribution to either the racehorses or to the lives of those working within the industry, or on racing鈥檚 behalf, in local communities showcasing the social responsibility of our sport, for either equine, humans or both.
3. The winner of each of the Leadership, Dedication, Rider/Groom and Stud Staff categories will receive a prize of 拢5,000 with an additional 拢5,000 also being awarded to the winner鈥檚 yard or stud. Two runners-up in each of these categories will win 拢2,000 each, with the same amount going to their yard or stud.
4. The winner of the Rory MacDonald Award will receive 拢5,000, with the same going to a charity of their choice. The two runners-up will receive 拢2,000, with the same going to a charity of their choice.
5. The winner of the David Nicholson Newcomer Award will receive 拢2,000, with the same amount going to their yard or stud, while two runners-up will receive 拢1,000 each, with the same amount for their yard or stud. There is an additional prize for the winner of the David Nicholson Newcomer Award, which includes return flights, a five-day educational tour of Dubai together with five nights鈥� accommodation in a five-star hotel.
6. The Awards will also recognise an Employee of the Year, who will be selected from the winners of the Leadership, Rider/Groom, Stud Staff and Dedication awards. That winner will receive an additional prize of 拢15,000, with the same amount going to their yard or stud.
